Premier
Colin Barnett
unveiled the design for Perth’s new 60,000-seat ­stadium on Thursday, raising the question of what commercial model will be used to run the $900 million facility.

With the Burswood Peninsula stadium designed by architects Cox and Hassell due to open in time for the 2018 AFL season, the state’s football and cricket bodies want to finalise the commercial arrangements underpinning it.

The West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers teams are likely to base themselves at the new stadium, the country’s third largest after the MCG and ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

The West Australian Football Commission, which owns both teams and makes 80 per cent of its revenue from management of the 43,000-seat Patersons Stadium in Subiaco, wants to run the new stadium.

“Of greatest interest to the WAFC in the new Perth Stadium is the viability of the venue for those clubs and the stadium revenue that will support the WAFC’s continued operations," chief executive
Gary Walton
said.

While the Westadium consortium of Brookfield Multiplex, John Laing and Brookfield Johnson Controls is responsible for design, building, financing and maintenance the stadium, an operator will only be appointed by 2016.

The WAFC does not own the Patersons Stadium, but leases the crown-owned site. Renegotiating ownership – and the potential to develop it for other purposes – could be part of negotiations with the state government.

“The WAFC regards the 99-year lease over Patersons Stadium as one its core assets and will explore all options to have it continue to generate returns," Mr Walton said.

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The Western Australian Cricket Association, which owns the 24,500-seat WACA oval, will negotiate playing Big Bash League and one-day games at the new stadium once it “has had the opportunity to consider the complete commercial terms for using the facility", chairman
Sam Gannon
said.

Mr Barnett said the stadium would provide “a special home ground advantage".

Cox’s
Alastair Richardson
, who with Hassell’s Peter Lee headed the architectural design team, said the stadium would greatly boost the fan experience.